For species seen in 2023 that had less than or equal to 100 records, full details are included; for more common species, the earliest, latest and highest count by vice-county are shown. The narrative for each species is taken from the main Hantsmoths website, and it is possible that some information on abundance and occurrence can get out of date, as it is impossible to keep up with all changes; however it should give a good introduction to each species. The tables in each species account summarise the previous status, and that for the current year.
For the maps, all records prior to 2023 are shown by a blue dot (the larger the dot, the more recent), with the current year's records shown in red. As previous records are superimposed on any report for 2023, new sites have greater emphasis (i.e. will show as 'more red').
In the species accounts, an asterisk next to a location indicates a new 10km square record; earliest ever dates are highlighted in orange, and latest ever in red. Initials in the species accounts refer to the recorders listed here. Please get in touch if you identify any omissions or errors, in particular if you have records that have yet to be submitted. Details of how to submit records can be found here.
Common in oak woodland throughout much of England and Wales, and parts of Scotland. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight still locally common in the New Forest and the north-east, but has declined markedly from the middle of the 20th Century. Wingspan 39-44 mm. The main confusion species is Lunar Marbled Brown D. ruficornis, which see. Larva feeds on Oak, over-wintering as a pupa.
Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | First Record | Last Record |
---|---|---|---|---|
10 | 38 | 215 | 1911 | 2022 |
11 | 1592 | 2800 | 1951 | 2022 |
12 | 600 | 1568 | 1951 | 2022 |
Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | Max Quantity |
---|---|---|---|
11 | 79 | 146 | 10 |
12 | 33 | 65 | 20 |
VC11: Earliest: Dibden Purlieu, NF, 28 Apr, 1 (RAC) Latest: Wickham, 23 Jun, 1 (F.M.G.) Max count: Blackbush, Milford-on-Sea, 28 May, 10 (MBot)
VC12: Earliest: Whitehill, 07 May, 1 (ASto) Latest: The Hawk Conservancy, Weyhill, 16 Jul, 20 (HPud) Max count: The Hawk Conservancy, Weyhill, 16 Jul, 20 (HPud)
Local in woodland, hedgerows, parks and gardens throughout the British Isles. Widespread and common in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 38-46 mm. The principal confusion species are Marbled Brown D. dodonaea, which lacks the distinct crescentic marking in the pale central area of the forewing near the costa, and which has less well-defined cross-lines than Lunar Marbled Brown; and Dusky Marbled Brown Gluphisia crenata, an extremely rare immigrant, which see. Larva feeds on Pedunculate, Sessile and Turkey Oak, over-wintering as a pupa.
Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | First Record | Last Record |
---|---|---|---|---|
10 | 333 | 715 | 1980 | 2022 |
11 | 2488 | 4326 | 1950 | 2022 |
12 | 669 | 1303 | 1951 | 2022 |
Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | Max Quantity |
---|---|---|---|
11 | 45 | 71 | 12 |
12 | 14 | 25 | 8 |
VC11: Brockenhurst, NF, one, field observation, 23 Apr (PDB); Marchwood, two, 22 Apr; one, 28 Apr; one, 01 May; one, 10 May (TDCh); one, 07 May; two, 09 Apr; one, 23 Apr; two, 28 Apr; one, 30 Apr; Lee, one, 28 Apr (CTha); North Baddesley, one, 14 Apr (RWPas); Stanbridge Earls, two, 16 Apr (JRM); Romsey, one, 28 Apr; two, 01 May; one, 10 May (MJB); one, 09 Apr; 12, 16 Apr; three, 18 Apr (NRJ); Blackfield, one, 17 Apr (SJJ); Swaythling, Southampton, one, 15 Apr (MEdg); Allbrook, two, 15 Apr; one, 16 Apr; one, 17 Apr (SIng); Botley Wood, four, 07 Apr (F.M.G.); Stubbington, one, 01 May (WMay); Fareham, one, 16 Apr (ADT); one, 01 May (IMcP); Botley, one, 11 Apr; two, 16 Apr; one, 27 Apr; two, 27 Apr (SLB); Waterlooville, two, 15 Apr; one, 19 Apr (DWhe); Lovedean, one, 08 Apr; one, 09 Apr; one, 15 Apr (ARJa); Old Winchester Hill, two, 28 Apr; one, 28 Apr (F.M.G.); Stroud, Petersfield, one, 26 Apr; present, 27 Apr (RAll); Christchurch, one, 30 Apr (APard); Tiptoe, Sway, three, 17 Apr (S&SLan); Pennington, one, 28 Apr; two, 29 Apr; one, 01 May (RFC);
VC12: Cholderton, one, 29 Apr (TJN); Ecchinswell, two, 18 Apr (MJN); Basingstoke, one, 06 May (MJW); Kings Furlong, Basingstoke, one, 29 Apr (DJJ); Alton, one, 28 Apr (DBO); Whitehill, one, 16 Apr; one, 26 Apr (ASto); Fleet Pond, eight, 09 Apr (MHals); Farnborough, one, 17 Apr; two, 20 Apr (MThmp); Blackwater, one, 16 Apr; three, 30 Apr (BGD); Farnborough, one, 04 May (KBW); one, 30 Apr (SBly)
Common in broad-leaved woodland, heathland, marshes and gardens throughout the British Isles. Widespread and common in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 42-50 mm. Larva feeds on Silver and Downy Birch, and Alder, over-wintering as a pupa.
Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | First Record | Last Record |
---|---|---|---|---|
10 | 367 | 401 | 1900 | 2022 |
11 | 4498 | 4870 | 1951 | 2022 |
12 | 1639 | 2019 | 1951 | 2022 |
Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | Max Quantity |
---|---|---|---|
11 | 74 | 80 | 3 |
12 | 54 | 69 | 6 |
VC11: Earliest: North Baddesley, 07 May, 1 (RWPas) Latest: East Tytherley, 27 Aug, 1 (GCE) Max count: Itchen Valley CP, 29 Jul, 3 (CTha)
VC12: Earliest: Fleet Pond, 14 May, 1 (MHals) Latest: Whitehill, 06 Sep, 1 (ASto) Max count: Fleet Pond, 10 Aug, 6 (MHals)
Common in woodland, hedgerows and gardens throughout the British Isles. Widespread and common in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 42-52 mm. Could be confused with the very rare immigrant Three-humped Prominent N. tritophus, which see. Larva feeds on Sallow and Willow, over-wintering as a pupa.
Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | First Record | Last Record |
---|---|---|---|---|
10 | 802 | 1159 | 1951 | 2022 |
11 | 4563 | 5752 | 1914 | 2022 |
12 | 1516 | 2322 | 1951 | 2022 |
Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | Max Quantity |
---|---|---|---|
11 | 112 | 142 | 6 |
12 | 60 | 73 | 3 |
VC11: Earliest: Dibden Purlieu, NF, 17 Apr, 1 (RAC) Latest: Sway, 21 Aug, 1 (SKee) Max count: Needs Ore NNR, 09 Aug, 6 (CNB)
VC12: Earliest: Ecchinswell, 07 May, 1 (MJN) Latest: Hammer Vale, Woolmer, 21 Aug, 1 (ASwa) Max count: Forton, 24 Jul, 3 (GCE)
Local in broad-leaved woodland, hedgerows and gardens throughout England and Wales. Locally common in oak woodland in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight, but especially in the New Forest. Wingspan 52-72 mm. Could be confused with the very rare immigrant Large Dark Prominent Notodonta torva, which see. Larva feeds on Pedunculate and Sessile Oak, over-wintering as a pupa.
Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | First Record | Last Record |
---|---|---|---|---|
10 | 98 | 427 | 1911 | 2022 |
11 | 2239 | 3998 | 1950 | 2022 |
12 | 673 | 1405 | 1951 | 2022 |
Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | Max Quantity |
---|---|---|---|
11 | 108 | 209 | 14 |
12 | 15 | 30 | 6 |
VC11: Earliest: Romsey, 09 Apr, 3 (NRJ) Latest: Marchwood, 03 Jun, 1 (CTha) Max count: Romsey, 30 Apr, 14 (NRJ)
VC12: Earliest: Blackwater, 18 Apr, 1 (BGD) Latest: Ecchinswell, 30 May, 2 (MJN) Max count: Pamber Forest, 04 May, 6 (GJD)
Common in woodland, plantations, scrub, gardens and parks throughout the British Isles. Widespread and common in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 50-64 mm. The main confusion species is Lesser Swallow Prominent P. gnoma, in which the thin white tornal line of Swallow Prominent is replaced by a very distinct white, wedge-shaped dash. Larva feeds on Aspen, Poplar, Willow and Sallow, over-wintering as a pupa.
Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | First Record | Last Record |
---|---|---|---|---|
10 | 614 | 804 | 1951 | 2022 |
11 | 3565 | 4311 | 1948 | 2022 |
12 | 1170 | 1668 | 1951 | 2022 |
Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | Max Quantity |
---|---|---|---|
11 | 84 | 100 | 3 |
12 | 27 | 31 | 2 |
VC11: Earliest: Swaythling, Southampton, 15 Apr, 1 (MEdg) Latest: Tiptoe, Sway, 27 Aug, 1 (S&SLan) Max count: Highbridge, Eastleigh, 19 Aug, 3 (SIng, PPir)
VC12: Earliest: Hammer Vale, Woolmer, 09 May, 1 (ASwa) Latest: Hammer Vale, Woolmer, 06 Sep, 1 (ASwa) Max count: Chilbolton, 21 Aug, 2 (GCE)
Common in woodland, heathland, moorland, downland, parks and gardens throughout the British Isles. Widespread and common in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 46-58 mm. The main confusion species is Swallow Prominent P. tremula, in which the very distinct white, wedge-shaped tornal dash of Lesser Swallow Prominent is replaced by a thin white line. Larva feeds on Silver and Downy Birch, over-wintering as a pupa.
Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | First Record | Last Record |
---|---|---|---|---|
10 | 380 | 463 | 1903 | 2022 |
11 | 5831 | 9170 | 1951 | 2022 |
12 | 1600 | 3269 | 1951 | 2022 |
Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | Max Quantity |
---|---|---|---|
11 | 131 | 170 | 5 |
12 | 63 | 78 | 3 |
VC11: Earliest: Dibden Purlieu, NF, 16 Apr, 1 (RAC) Latest: Stanbridge Earls, 19 Sep, 1 (JRM) Max count: Hurn, 18 Aug, 5 (MJef)
VC12: Earliest: Whitehill, 15 Apr, 1 (ASto) Latest: Hammer Vale, Woolmer, 16 Sep, 1 (ASwa) Max count: Selborne, 17 Aug, 3 (CJP)
Common in woodland, scrub and gardens throughout the British Isles. Widespread and common in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 42-60 mm. Unmistakable. Larva feeds on Aspen, Poplar and Willow, over-wintering as a pupa.
Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | First Record | Last Record |
---|---|---|---|---|
10 | 616 | 773 | 1849 | 2022 |
11 | 4983 | 5783 | 1900 | 2022 |
12 | 1293 | 1700 | 1951 | 2022 |
Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | Max Quantity |
---|---|---|---|
11 | 145 | 179 | 5 |
12 | 48 | 61 | 3 |
VC11: Earliest: Romsey, 26 Apr, 1 (NRJ) Latest: Botley, 20 Aug, 1 (SLB) Max count: Blashford Lakes HIWWT NR, 15 Jul, 5 (PWhtk)
VC12: Earliest: Cholderton, 29 Apr, 1 (TJN) Latest: Axmansford, 24 Sep, 1 (ACB) Max count: Sherborne St John, 16 Aug, 3 (MJW)
Common in woodland, scrub, parks and gardens throughout the British Isles. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight locally common, mainly in the south west. Wingspan 40-50 mm. The main confusion species is Maple Prominent P. cucullina, which is smaller, paler and has a white subterminal line and white subterminal fascia (MBGBI Vol 9). Larva feeds on various broad-leaved trees, including Birch, Hazel, Alder, Aspen, Sallow, Hawthorn, Lime, Oak, Beech and Rowan, over-wintering as a pupa.
Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | First Record | Last Record |
---|---|---|---|---|
10 | 401 | 451 | 1849 | 2022 |
11 | 2453 | 2485 | 1949 | 2022 |
12 | 706 | 733 | 1951 | 2022 |
Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | Max Quantity |
---|---|---|---|
11 | 22 | 24 | 2 |
12 | 15 | 18 | 3 |
VC11: Fordingbridge, one, 28 Jul (SCT); East Tytherley, one, 09 Aug (GCE); Totton, one, 29 Jul (CNB); Lee, one, 08 Jul (CTha); North Baddesley, one, 10 Aug; one, 24 Aug (RWPas); Romsey, one, 21 May; one, 15 Aug (NRJ); Needs Ore NNR, one, 23 Jul (CNB); Botley Wood, two, 04 Aug (AMD); Wickham, one, 17 May; one, 09 Jun; one, 14 Jun; one, 21 Jun (JRDS); Waterlooville, two, 23 May; one, 17 Jun; one, 11 Aug (DWhe); Hurn, one, 15 Aug; Hengistbury Head, one, 09 Aug (MJef); Bransgore, one, 11 May (SPMC); Needs Ore NNR, one, 09 Aug; one, 16 Aug (CNB);
VC12: Leckford Abbas, three, 03 Aug (KaHer); Grayshott, one, 03 Jun (THard); Cole Henley, one, 27 Jul (GCE); Hinton Ampner, one, 12 Aug (ASD); Ecchinswell, one, 09 Jun (MJN); Vyne Lodge Farm, Cufaude, one, 09 Aug (AWan); Alton, one, 13 Jul (DBO); Selborne, one, 17 Aug (CJP); Whitehill, one, 30 Apr; one, 17 May; two, 18 May; one, 29 Jul (ASto); Hammer Vale, Woolmer, one, 18 Aug (ASwa); Fleet Pond, one, 10 Aug (MHals); Farnborough, one, 20 May (MThmp)
Local in broad-leaved woodland, scrub, hedgerows and gardens throughout much of south-eastern England. A moth with a curious distribution in our area, completely absent from the New Forest and the Isle of Wight but thinly distributed from the south-east of Hampshire up to the north and north-east. Wingspan 37-46 mm. The most likely confusion species is Coxcomb Prominent P. capucina, which see for differences. Larva feeds on Field Maple, mainly on young trees, over-wintering as a pupa.
Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | First Record | Last Record |
---|---|---|---|---|
11 | 128 | 136 | 1951 | 2022 |
12 | 221 | 196 | 1951 | 2022 |
Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | Max Quantity |
---|---|---|---|
11 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
12 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
VC11: Broughton, one, 23 Jun (GCE); Botley Wood, one, male. , 09 Jun (F.M.G.); Waterlooville, one, 09 Aug (DWhe);
VC12: Nether Wallop, one, 22 Jun (GCE); Overton, one, 13 Aug (FTu); Tidgrove Warren, nr Overton, one, 07 Jul (MJW, ACB); Great Haughurst Copse, Axmansford, one, 24 Jun (ACB); Bentley Station Meadow, one, 08 Aug (NDP, KBW det. KBW)
Local in long-established birch woodland, from southern England discontinuously to the Scottish Highlands. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight widespread but local and rather uncommon in birch country, mainly in the western half of southern Hampshire. Wingspan 44-52 mm. Forewing with a prominent, black dorsal scale-tooth, and yellowish white costal marks at one-third and two-third (MBGBI Vol 9). Larva feeds on Silver Birch and Downy Birch, over-wintering as a pupa.
Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | First Record | Last Record |
---|---|---|---|---|
10 | 3 | 3 | 1981 | 1993 |
11 | 347 | 403 | 1951 | 2022 |
12 | 85 | 116 | 1951 | 2022 |
Vice County | #Records | #Individuals | Max Quantity |
---|---|---|---|
11 | 4 | 5 | 2 |
12 | 5 | 7 | 2 |
VC11: Brockwood, two, 26 Apr (SDut); Romsey, one, 18 Apr (NRJ); Botley Wood, one, 21 Apr (F.M.G.); Hurn, one, 25 Apr (MJef);
VC12: Pamber Forest, two, 27 Apr (GJD); Whitehill, one, 15 Apr; two, 22 Apr; one, 26 Apr (ASto); Farnborough, one, 28 Apr (MThmp)